Very Newbie Question (that I cannot seem to Google away): What is a Side Lock muzzleloader

[liveaxle]

I came across a hunting regulation that specifically called for a flintlock or side-lock muzzleloader. Initially I thought a side-lock is just another term for a percussion cap muzzleloader, but I have found some information that suggests percussion cap muzzleloaders are not side-lock.

Is this a situation where I am misunderstanding things? Or are side lock muzzleloaders percussion cap muzzleloaders, but not all percussion cap muzzleloaders are side lock? Or am I entirely off base and side locks are something different?

 

[ElDiablito]

Simple.

Hammer (lock) on the side = “side lock” muzzy.

 

[liveaxle]

That was my initial conclusion, but I guess I was overthinking things.

Thank you

 

[Eleven]

Some percussion cap charged muzzleloaders are not sidelocks. They use a percussion cap in an in-line system. So you can’t just say ‘percussion cap’ if you truly want the regs to be for a side/hammer lock.